Former President Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, have sat down for at least 48 interviews since the Harris-Walz ticket was formed, compared to just eight non-scripted interviews for the Democratic presidential ticket thus far.
Vance did interviews with CNN, Fox News and ABC in the aftermath of Tuesday’s ABC News Presidential Debate between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, and he also appeared on Fox News’ “The Story” on Wednesday. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz spoke with MSNBC and ABC after the debate, marking just his fourth and fifth solo interviews since joining the Democratic ticket last month.
Trump joined Fox News’ Sean Hannity afterward for an interview, where he said he felt the ABC debate was “three on one” in criticism of moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis. He also joined “FOX & Friends” on Wednesday morning to react to the debate.
From left: Former President Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, have different media strategies than Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. (Getty Images)
Harris and Walz ended their extended interview drought last month when they talked with CNN’s Dana Bash in Georgia after weeks of stonewalling the media. The highly publicized interview was the first time Harris sat down with a journalist since well before she selected Walz on Aug. 6.
Harris taped two radio interviews last week with Uforia, the audio network of TelevisaUnivision, and Rickey Smiley, host of the nationally syndicated “Rickey Smiley Show.” The Uforia interview aired last week, while the Smiley interview was delayed until Monday due to what the campaign reportedly called “technical difficulties.”
Walz also spoke last week to WCMU radio in Michigan, in addition to speaking with “The Morning News with Nancy Kman and Jason Barsky” on WILK in Pennsylvania, and “The Chad Holmes Show” on WXCO in Wisconsin.
Since Aug. 6, Trump has spoken with Fox News’ “Life, Liberty & Levin” host Mark Levin, NBC News, the Daily Mail, Dr. Phil, Fox News’ Alicia Acuna, Hugh Hewitt Radio, FOX Business, podcaster Theo Von, the New York Post, WBRE News Wilkes-Barre, WLOS News 13 Asheville, Univision, and “FOX & Friends” twice. He’s also made at least two other cable news appearances and sat down with supporter Elon Musk for a lengthy conversation, according to a Fox News Digital review.
52 DAYS: KAMALA HARRIS HAS YET TO DO FORMAL PRESS CONFERENCE SINCE EMERGING AS DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE
Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speak with CNN on Aug. 29. (CNN)
The former president also sat down with podcaster Lex Fridman in an interview that was posted on Tuesday and a New Hampshire radio show on Wednesday, followed by a town hall with Fox News host Sean Hannity.
Vance, who has been critical of Harris dodging the press, has spoken to “FOX & Friends,” CNN’s John Berman, WBAY2, News 5 Cleveland, NBC News, “Meet the Press,” “No Spin News,” WALB 10, “CBS Evening News,” “The Brett Winterble Show,” “Jesse Watters Primetime,” “Fox News Sunday,” “The Dan O’Donnell Show,” ABC’s “This Week,” CBS’ “Face the Nation” and CNN’s “State of the Union” over that same time period.
He was interviewed by CNBC on Thursday and also sat for interviews this week with The Shawn Ryan Show and the All-In podcast.
Vance also appeared on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” last week and did an interview with supporter Charlie Kirk.
Former President Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, have sat down for at least 39 interviews since the Harris-Walz ticket was formed, some of them with supporters. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
Harris still has not held a formal press conference since replacing President Biden as the Democratic nominee, opting for quick “gaggles” lasting a few minutes and off-the-record sessions with reporters on her campaign plane.
USA Today Washington bureau chief Susan Page believes Americans deserve to hear both candidates answer tough questions.
“I think part of the job description of being president is answering questions, not because reporters have a right to ask them, but because Americans have a right to hear them,” Page told Fox News Digital.
“One of the major ways we do that is through interviews and through news conferences. And anybody who is running for president, I think should have the expectation that they’re gonna do interviews and news conferences, although they can also do public town halls and other things where they have a chance to talk to Americans,” she continued. “You need to communicate, connect with and answer questions of voters if you expect them to vote for you and if you expect them to follow you when you’re governing.”
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This report has been updated with additional interviews from both tickets.
Fox News Digital’s Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report.